WHEN: THIS SATURDAY, 19th SEPTEMBER
WHERE: TE HENGA STUDIOS, BETHELS BEACH
If you are not sure what a Salon event is click here.
We’re excited to announce our food and drink Partners for TEDxAucklandSalon 2.0 event this Saturday, 19th of September at Te Henga Studios, Bethells Beach.

Hallertau – Try one of Auckland’s locally brewed craft beers. Situated in Riverhead, at the head of the Waitemata Harbour. Hallertau have specialised in their own distinctive beers by taking inspiration from international styles and flavours. We are looking forward to this unique style of beer with a good twist of Kiwi ingenuity.

Lothlorien Winery – Who doesn’t like Feijoa? If it’s in form of wine, even better. Lothlorien is a fully certified organic New Zealand farm based in the North of Auckland. Lothlorien Winery was born in 1993, making award-wining feijoa sparkling wine which will be provided on Saturday.

Pioneer Pies – Where to get a good pie? The question has been answered. Pioneer Pie Co. is a family business, based in Albany Auckland, dedicated to the art of producing highest quality pies. Their award-wining pies are individually hand-crafted using traditional methods and organic ingredients.

Earthbound Honey with local Sourdough Breads, Cheeses and lots of dips!

Andrea Gaia & Friends, cloud9 and 309Zmedia are doing VJ projections and lighting for the evening at the beautiful Te Henga Studios. Artist Peter Brierley-Millman is planning something special to showcase on the night! Music on the night by Jafa Mafia (The Baddest DJ's bringing Reggae to the world). All of which is going to make for a magical evening!

BUY TICKETS HERE, only 100 places available so get in quick to secure your spot.

Speakers

Brendan Hoare

Brendan has been committed to organic systems approaches to sustainability for 28 years, working across traditional disciplines with commercial organisations, governments, NGO’s as well as tribal groups throughout New Zealand and the Asia Pacific. His practice integrates landscape ecology, redesign and implementation of productive landscapes and the mobilising of communities and organisations.

His company Buy Pure New Zealand is committed to activating a thriving trade community of organic, natural and fair trade brands in Asia Pacific, as well as agriculture reform for the benefit of all New Zealanders. His family run Organic farm, designed on polyculture systems is where they demonstrate and share their passion to develop regional food culture and economic strategies through daily practice and programmes to the community.


Sarah Solaris

Sarah is co-founder of The Vault Retail Concept – one of the first stores in the world to exhibit New Zealand works alongside international design products. Since 1991, The Vault has been showcasing the best of New Zealand’s creative community and supporting local artisans and artists. Their boutique retail outlets have contributed to the phenomenal growth in the quantity and quality of what New Zealand designers and craftspeople are producing.

Sarah feels business people need to help lead the drive for a pollution-free, sustainable world, and ensures the Vault operates as an environmentally conscious and active organisation, insisting on Fair Trade conditions for imported products, selecting products with good eco-credentials (eco-friendly jewellery, recycled / up-cycled or made from the earth), with 75% NZ made, so low carbon miles. They use biodegradable, sustainably grown packaging whenever possible.

Sarah is also very active in her local community, helping to create the Te Henga Bethells Community Hub, the Sustainability Group at the local Primary School and as a busy mother of three, she is now devoting more time to community action on clean energy and reducing unsustainable activity. Sarah is a great example as an ethical entrepreneur, applying the design philosophy that built a successful business which supports a thriving creative industry, to developing innovative community and campaigning strategies in support of a sustainable future.


Pete Russel

Pete is a local food advocate, social entrepreneur and founder of Ooooby. After seeing first hand the destructive nature of globalised food and the accelerating demand for local alternatives during his time at a multi-million dollar food business, Pete became committed to working in the local food space. Driven by a passion for developing smart systems for food sales and logistics, Out of our own backyards (Ooooby) is the result of his work – a local food operation delivering to hundreds of doorsteps each week.


#TEDxAklSalon
Join the innovators of Te Henga | Bethells Beach as we go on a journey to redesign and model more sustainable systems for local communities. From food, to community and personal action to global implications that affect us all. We hope ideas sparked at this TEDxSalon will form the basis of community-driven action plans.

The event will focus on working towards creating resilient systems with each other and the Waitakere Ranges Heritage area.

FOOD & DRINK are provided thanks to our lovely hosts! We are putting a bus on from the city. Pick up location is City Works Depot (by the Food Truck Garage), Corner of Wellesley & Nelson St, CBD this Saturday 19th at 4:00pm.

Tickets are $40 for own transport and only $10 more if you are coming in the bus with us from town! It's going to be a great evening out West! Facebook event link.

BUY TICKETS HERE, only 100 places available so get in quick to secure your spot.

And a massive thanks to our partners:

                         

By the time you start getting close to Te Henga Studios, you begin to think your final destination will be a farmhouse or state-of-the-art paddock. The forest on either side of the winding road makes you think you have gone much further than the 50minute drive from Auckland.

The front of the studios is beautiful, warm colours evoking a Tuscan manor surrounded by dark Waitakere bush. I had traveled to this creative oasis to lead a poetry workshop and share some stories with local poets and poetry enthusiasts. On arrival I was led to an enclosed yurt where the workshop was to take place. Decorated with the tools of the spiritual trade, I always find circular rooms to be very democratising and relaxing.

The workshop was well attended and full of writing and laughter that made the time fly. We were fed pies by our gracious hosts before I was left alone to spend the night in the yurt.

Waking up to a very respectful rooster who started crowing at around 8am, I knew I intended to return for longer. Te Henga Studios is purpose built to relax, engage and inspire.


Ben Fagan Performance Poet • Arts Co-ordinator

COMMUNITY SCREENING OF DOCUMENTARY "COWSPIRACY"

Friday August 7th 

Join us from 7pm.  Screening starts at 7.30 promptly

Te Henga Studios  130 Bethells Road

No charge for entry. All welcome... Spread the word - this is a life changing film.

Please car pool. Parking is past the house to the left. Shoes off in the house, no smoking. After the film there will be tea and snacks. For more info please ring Sarah Solaris 8108929

ABOUT THE FILM - Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following intrepid US filmmaker Kip Andersen as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today – and investigates why the world’s leading environmental organisations are too afraid to talk about it. Read more  http://www.cowspiracy.com/

Thanks to Te Henga Studios for hosting.
Find out about this wonderful space at Te Henga here  http://www.tehengastudios.com/

Here is the first instalment of our "Change Maker's Series" of interviews with amazing people and groups around Aotearoa and the World.

Vagabonds Hostel - Koh Rong - Cambodia.

https://www.facebook.com/VagabondsKohRong?fref=ts

Q. Can you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?

My name's Courtney. I own a small bar/hostel/restaurant on a beautiful tropical island called Koh Rong which is about 25kms off the coast of Cambodia. I have three business partners, Dave (Aussie), Meg (Brit) and Nez (Turkish) who are all great friends of mine, our business is called Vagabonds.

Q. Koh Rong in Southern Cambodia is a far flung place way off the "Banana Pancake trail" of South East Asia.
How did you find this paradise and what were your first impressions of it?

I first visited Koh Rong in 2011 during an extended backpacking trip around SE Asia. I had heard that Cambodia had islands more beautiful than Thailand and a lot less developed (and inevitably ruined), it sounded too good to miss! I wasn't disappointed. Back then there were only three guesthouses and a small totally undeveloped fishing village at one end of the beach. I went for one night and ended up staying 10, like literally everyone I got to know during my time there. I met my future business partner (Dave) over a beer at the bar. We travelled through Myanmar together but then parted ways for a couple of years while I did a bit more traveling. Dave stayed on the island most of that time and started three businesses, one of which was Vagabonds. He had spread himself a bit thin so he was more than happy for me to buy in and manage the place, which i've been doing ever since (about 18 months now).

Koh Rong is developing fast and over the last year or so it has found it's spot on the tourist trail, but we're still decades behind the development of the Thai Islands and the negative impacts unsustainable tourism invariably leads to. It's difficult trying to find a balance between what's good for business and what's good for the local community and environment, but we try our best!

Q. How have you found working with the locals on Koh Rong?
And what have been some of the struggles and successes?

I love working with people from all over the world every day. Our Khmer staff are integral to the success of Vagabonds. There is obviously a big cultural/language barrier between our western and local staff, but that has never caused us any big problems in the past. The longer I live in Cambodia the more I understand the common traits and priorities among Khmer people and this obviously helps me as a manager to keep my staff happy and productive. At the end of the day we're all humans who deserve love and respect, knowing this has never done me wrong!

Q. Vagabonds Hostel , From the outside looks to be a space that is very inclusive of your guests.
How do you promote this and what are the limitations?

I think the fact that we're a small place really helps people feel at home. If you stay with us for more than a couple of nights you can't help but get to know our staff and other guests. I've travelled around the world alone and I know from experience the places people remember aren't the fanciest or the most expensive, but the ones that were the most inclusive. The ones where the bartender learnt your name on the first day and introduced you to your dorm mates who just happen to be hanging around shooting the shit. That's the atmosphere we want at Vagabonds.

Q When I was at Vagabonds I saw how with more long term guests that there was the opportunity for select people to become part of the crew. How do you balance the volunteers work? What do you offer as payment or exchange?

One of the first things I had to come to terms with in managing Vagabonds is that all of our western staff are on holiday. It can be hard to expect a certain level of commitment from staff when they could just as easily be outside having fun on the beach. The best way I've found to keep staff and guests happy is to create a fun atmosphere that is always full of friends.

Like everywhere else on the beach we don't pay western staff but we provide them with a bed in our staff dorm, two free meals a day and free drinks. Our staff work 2/3 days on then have a day off (which is much better than a lot of other bars on the island!) I make sure the schedule is made in advance so people know exactly what days they have off. We're also pretty flexible with letting people have extra time off to explore the islands and Cambodia more.

Q. Koh Rong is a beautiful and magical place. But like so many other areas that are truly special like Koh Rong, Big corporate influence is slowly showing its ugly head.

How is Vagabonds positioned to create value via sustainable methods for the local people

Koh Rong officially belongs to a big corporation called the Royal Group. They got a 99 year lease from the government a few years ago and planned to make it an exclusive resort island with it's own international airport. Luckily for us and the four villages on Koh Rong development stalled about 3 years ago and we haven't heard much from them lately. It's always hard to get a clear answer on things like these in Cambodia because the governing bodies are so corrupt, but last I heard from a trusted local friend is that all four villages are protected from this big corporations developments. Vagabonds falls well within the boundaries of the most developed village Koh Tui, so this would indicate that we are safe for the time being at least. Vagabonds and almost all our neighbours on the island have never paid rent to the Royal Group, instead we lease our land from local families who claim ownership. This has meant a huge increase in the standard of living for most khmer families who have been living on the island for years. The last five years has seen a complete change in revenue for locals of Koh Tui village from fishing to tourism.

There is a great NGO we work with on the island that was started by an amazing group of Aussie/Canadian girls in 2013. Their whole goal is to help local Khmers benefit from the huge influx of tourism to their island. They provide english, health and nutrition and business education to locals of all ages and also work hard to keep Koh Rong clean and sustainable. Visit their site to learn more about what they do and to volunteer where you're really needed; friendsofkohrong.org

Q.How would you see connecting to a global network of similar initiatives' helping to support what you do? Have you found networks already

I think having a network to bounce ideas and support off would be a great tool for us. As Koh Rong continues to grow we face a lot of challenges ahead in areas like sanitation and waste management. Unlike first world countries we can't rely on the government to provide us with the answers. If we could learn from other peoples experiences from around the world and maybe teach some people with ours we could all resolve issues faster.

Q Do you have any words of wisdom for other people that are wanting to create change in their local community?

Change doesn't have to be on a huge scale, it can start small and grow - or not. Small change is still change, it can still make a difference where it's needed and can inspire others along the same path.

On the 29th to the 31st of May we were extremely happy to welcome Chewie and the Tamiani group to the studio. They perform African drum and dance as well as having a melodic element using Ngoni, Flute and Marimba and song.

They perform at festivals, weddings, parties and major events and also run workshops.

Jimi Dale is leader of Tamani and has been teaching Drum and Dance classes throughout New Zealand. He has a great passion for bringing people together to celebrate African music and dance.

Recently he has become interested in the crossover of indigenous cultures in their understanding of life through ceremony, music, stories and dance.

To find out more go to
http://www.drumtalk.co.nz/

Or their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Drumtalk/157110747691200?fref=ts

On the 21st of June we hosted a beautiful Kirtan for the Winter Solistice, lead by Brendon Sakey, Tiipene on the drums - input by everyone. Dinner made by Siri and Leslie - Purple curry, salad and coconut rice pudding, with some Chai. A really nourishing afternoon for the soul.

Meet Constantine! He's a German WWOOFer that's been staying with us this week! He was kind enough to engage in a little Q and A about his time here at THS!

Q: What brought you here to Te Henga Studios?

A: I started my whole NZ journey because I wanted to discover life, myself and I was keen to learn all skills around farming, permaculture and sustainable living. Te Henga sounded interesting to me because of the way they're trying to combine these things with art, creativity and a community lifestyle.

Q: How has your time at THS influenced you?

A: Before I started my journey I had no idea what I want to do in life. When I was talking to Sally about how I would like to do something in the business field but not to be just focussed on money she explained social enterprises to me and a few hours of further research later I was totally convinced that this is the right way to go. So basically Sally's recommendation and the way I could see them evolving their own social enterprise helped me a lot for my future plans and studying options!